My 5-month old Malinois has only one testicle. Either that, or it hasn't dropped yet.
My vet tells me she thinks she can feel the other testicle in the "canal" but she can't be sure.
My assumption is that if it hasn't dropped by now (5 months), it's not going to drop at all. Is this a valid assumption?
How do I know if my pup is a monorchid or if it hasn't dropped yet? Will x-rays show it or does it require some other specialized procedure?
Ed says in his article "Neutering Male Dogs" that "any dog with a retained testicle should be neutered at a young age." What is considered a "young age?"
I have no intention of breeding my pup, but I would like to train him in protection sports and would like to delay neutering until at least 24 months.
I searched the board about this topic and I found this thread.
It looks like I have the same issue as Kurt. My dog is almost 5 month now.
I read many articles about the time frame where they suppose to drop.
The time frame of dropping I learned can be between 6 weeks and 18 month.
A very long time though. The advice is almost always to be patient and wait.
I like to PM Kurt to ask him how it went with his dog but he did not post a long time.
I’m not sure if he is still on this forum.
Sorry if I post a topic which was covered already many times. I’m a bit in panic mode.
Are there some people on this board with some success stories about late dropping?
What is the concern? Are you planning on neutering him? He's not going to be a candidate for breeding if he is a chriptorchid, but that isn't really a valid reason to neuter early, IMO. (Most breeders won't stud out a dog that is exceptionally late to drop, either)
If it were me, and I had a dog with only one testicle dropped, I'd wait till he was fully mature (over 3 years old) and neuter him to reduce the risk of cancer, but thats just me.
No reason to panic. Nothing needs to be done today, or in the immediate future. Deep breath. He'll be perfectly normal with one, both, or no balls.
When he is super relaxed in the evening and sacked out on his back, rub gently but with a little firm pressure along very back part of the penis toward the scrotum. Try also from the anus toward the scrotum. Often you can feel the tail of the structures that guide the "nut" toward the scrotum from the abdominal cavity. At 5 mos the testicle may descend, especially if you can feel the little thickening in the scrotum that I am describing. If there is nothing, I think it's pretty rare that the testicle descends past 8 mos, or even 6 mos.
You are better at this exam than a stranger in the vet office. The pup has to really be relaxed (asleep is good!).
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: leih merigian
Kurt,
If you put testicles dropping in the search window on this site, you'll find lots of reassurance<g>.
Apparently, they can drop all the way up to 18 months. Seems to me at 5 months, he's way too young to start being overly concerned.
leih
Totally! No panic, no anxiety, no worry.
As Ed says: "Working dogs that are born with one testicle should be neutered but not until after they are 2 years old. If these dogs are not neutered they run the risk of
developing testicular cancer around 5 years of age. Neutering too early (before 2 years old) is going to effect the dogs working ability. Neutering after 2 years is not going to effect the dogs working ability."
I would do what Betty advises and I would stop worrying. 5 months is awfully early to be worrying about this. JMO!
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: kurt smith
... Ed says in his article "Neutering Male Dogs" that "any dog with a retained testicle should be neutered at a young age." What is considered a "young age?" .... I would like to train him in protection sports and would like to delay neutering until at least 24 months.
I emailed Ed and his response was "by age 3" so the dog would have the hormones to develop properly but would also have the removal before the typical cancer age.
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Testicle Hasn't Dropped
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Nothing needs to be done today, or in the immediate future. Deep breath. He'll be perfectly normal with one, both, or no balls. 
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